the scottish national identity
The term 'Scottish National Identity' contains two very diverse concepts that of 'nation' and 'identity', therefore, we have to understand that national identity can encompass a number of different factors and that identity can be ever changing. With this in mind, this essay will examine a selection of the main factors of nation and national identity, which have been covered by many different sociologists, including McCrone and Nairn. The four main factors that will be examined below are; cultural, political and psychological issues which contribute to and are included in a Scottish National Identity.Culturally Scotland can be shown as a nation/having national identity by its collective history, literature and traditions. History is not only an important element in cultural national identity, but in all of the following factors. Historical information is important because Scotland is a country which is steeped in its own history also this information allows a contrast with more modern times or at the very least confirms the root from which Scottish national identity stems. Before the Act of Union 1707 Scotland was a nation state; it had its own government, giving it co
This of course is not a true portrayal of Scotland but does exist as an external image, due to these promoted identities. However, even though the tartan we continuously see in the twentieth century, as part of Scottish identity is the Anglicised version it cannot be denied that it is perceived globally as a cultural emblem of Scottish national dress and therefore part of the Scottish identity (stereotypical or not). The pastoral farmers benefited by being able to sell more cattle to the English "as the price for meat rose in the south". Scotland have always had their own institutions retained even after the Act of union 1707 these include their education system which entails being taught Scottish history and being tested by a separate examination board; Scottish Qualification Authority, legal system which includes separate laws from the rest of the UK and a separate religious system which ranges from the Church of Scotland to "The Roman Catholic Church having its own separate hierarchy" (McDermid et al, 1998, p157). Bill Miller (1981) suggests that pressure politics/rational choice theory was the reason behind the rise in votes for the SNP. " This not only confirms the cultural history of national dress but also allows us to understand the suppression and Anglicisation of it, as "the kilt and tartan were appropriated by the British army in its colonial wars. "Alternative political identification for Scots became necessary and was found in the form of the SNP and the "nationalist elements of the Labour Party. Psychological National IdentityDefining a nation psychologically seems the most difficult to measure because it appears similar to the cultural notion, the difference being that it is easy to see different cultures and traditions. The union of 1707 "ensured that Scotland should preserve the definite nationality which she had won for herself and had preserved for so long" (Mackie, 1978, p263). "In 1974 Scotland as a whole lay sixth out of the nine wage regions into which the country was divided. Scotland, however kept some of its national qualities; "As well as the rights of the Kirk," (their own religion) "the privileges of the royal burghs. Literature has and still does play a huge part in culture.
Common topics in this essay:
Bill Miller,
British Empire,
Tartan Plaid,
Scotland Wales,
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Trowse Shoulderbelts,
North American,
Identity Defining,
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Romanticism Highlands,
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twentieth century,
union 1707,
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al 1998 p157,
scottish history,
uneven development,
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century scotland,
et al 1998,
scottish national dress,
act union 1707,
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